Patents by Inventor Edward Nowak

Edward Nowak has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20060076623
    Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit structure that has a substrate having at least two types of crystalline orientations. First-type transistors (e.g., NFETs) are formed on first portions of the substrate having a first type of crystalline orientation, and second-type transistors (e.g., PFETs) are formed on second portions of the substrate having a second type of crystalline orientation. Some of the first portions of the substrate comprise non-floating substrate portions, and the remaining ones of the first portions and all of the second portions of the substrate comprise floating substrate portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Inventors: Brent Anderson, MeiKei Leong, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20060076643
    Abstract: A method of forming an antifuse forms a material layer and then patterns the material layer into a fin. The center portion of the fin is converted into a substantially non-conductive region and the end portions of the fin into conductors. The process of converting the center portion of the fin into an insulator allows a process of heating the fin above a predetermined temperature to convert the insulator into a conductor. Thus, the fin-type structure that can be selectively converted from an insulator into a permanent conductor using a heating process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONALL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mathew Breitwisch, Chung Lam, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20060076628
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having devices fabricated in both SOI regions and bulk regions, wherein the regions are connected by a trench filled with epitaxially deposited material. The filled trench provides a continuous semiconductor surface joining the SOI and bulk regions. The SOI and bulk regions may have the same or different crystal orientations. The present integrated circuit is made by forming a substrate with SOI and bulk regions separated by an embedded sidewall spacer (made of dielectric). The sidewall spacer is etched, forming a trench that is subsequently filled with epitaxial material. After planarizing, the substrate has SOI and bulk regions with a continuous semiconductor surface. A butted P-N junction and silicide layer can provide electrical connection between the SOI and bulk regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent Anderson, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20060068531
    Abstract: An integrated circuit, such as a SRAM cell (130), including an inverted FinFET transistor (P2) and a FinFET transistor (N3). The inverted FinFET transistor includes a first gate region (108) formed by semiconductor structure (100) on a substrate, a first body region comprised of a semiconductor layer (104), having a first channel region (112) disposed on the first gate region and a source (110) and drain (114) formed on either side of the first channel region. The FinFET transistor (N3) is coupled to the inverted FinFET transistor, and includes a second body region formed by the semiconductor structure (102), having a second channel region (118), and a source (116) and drain (120) formed on either side of the second channel region, and a second gate region (122) comprised of the semiconductor layer, disposed on the second channel region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Matthew Breitwisch, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20060065954
    Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit structure that has a substrate having at least two types of crystalline orientations. The first-type transistors are on first portions of the substrate that have a first type of crystalline orientation and second-type transistors are on second portions of the substrate that have a second type of crystalline orientation. The straining layer is above the first-type transistors and the second-type transistors. Further, the straining layer can be strained above the first-type transistors and relaxed above the second-type transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventor: Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20060060918
    Abstract: A structure of a semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same is disclosed. The semiconductor structure comprises first and second source/drain regions; a channel region disposed between the first and second source/drain regions; a buried well region in physical contact with the channel region; and a buried barrier region being disposed between the buried well region and the first source/drain region and being disposed between the buried well region and the second source/drain region, wherein the buried barrier region is adapted for preventing current leakage and dopant diffusion between the buried well region and the first source/drain region and between the buried well region and the second source/drain region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hussein Hanafi, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20060060856
    Abstract: A field effect transistor and method of fabricating the field effect transistor. The field effect transistor, including: a gate electrode formed on a top surface of a gate dielectric layer, the gate dielectric layer on a top surface of a single-crystal silicon channel region, the single-crystal silicon channel region on a top surface of a Ge including layer, the Ge including layer on a top surface of a single-crystal silicon substrate, the Ge including layer between a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer on the top surface of the single-crystal silicon substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent Anderson, Louis Lanzerotti, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20060057802
    Abstract: A finFET (100) having sidwall spacers (136, 140) to suppress parasitic devices in the upper region of a channel and at the bases of source(s) and drain(s) that are artifacts of the fabrication techniques used to make the finFET. The FinFET is formed on an SOI wafer (104) by etching through a hardmask (148) so as to form a freestanding fin (120). Prior to doping the source(s) (124) and drain(s) (128), a layer (156) of thermal oxide is deposited over the entire finFET. This layer is etched away so as to form the sidewall spacers at each reentrant corner formed where a horizontal surface meets a vertical surface. Sidewall spacers (136) inhibit doping of the upper region of source(s) and drain(s) immediately adjacent the gate. Sidewall spacers (140) fill in any undercut regions (144) of BOX layer (116) that may have been formed during prior fabrication steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Edward Nowak, BethAnn Rainey
  • Publication number: 20060057791
    Abstract: A method of fabricating micro-chips, including: (a) providing a substrate; (b) forming a first single-crystal layer on a top surface of the substrate; (c) forming a second single-crystal layer on a top surface of the first single-crystal layer; (d) forming integrated circuits in the second single-crystal layer; (e) forming a set of intersecting trenches in the second-single crystal layer to form single-crystal islands, each single-crystal island containing one or more of the integrated circuits, the first single-crystal layer exposed in a bottom of the trench; and (f) removing the first single-crystal layer in order to separate the single-crystal islands from the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent Anderson, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20060054978
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and structure for a fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET) structure that has different thickness gate dielectrics covering the fins extending from the substrate. These fins have a central channel region and source and drain regions on opposite sides of the channel region. The thicker gate dielectrics can comprise multiple layers of dielectric and the thinner gate dielectrics can comprise less layers of dielectric. A cap comprising a different material than the gate dielectrics can be positioned over the fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Clark, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20060047474
    Abstract: A structure, apparatus and method for deterring the temperature of an active region in semiconductor, particularly a FET is provided. A pair FETs are arranged on a silicon island a prescribed distance from one another where the silicon island is surrounded by a thermal insulator. One FET is heated by a current driven therethrough. The other FET functions as a temperature sensor by having a change in an electrical characteristic versus temperature monitored. By arranging multiple pairs of FETs separated by different known distances, the temperature of the active region of one of the FETs may be determined during operation at various driving currents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul Hyde, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20060043616
    Abstract: A FinFET device and a method of lowering a gate capacitance and extrinsic resistance in a field effect transistor, wherein the method comprises forming an isolation layer comprising a BOX layer over a substrate, configuring source/drain regions above the isolation layer, forming a fin structure over the isolation layer, configuring a first gate electrode adjacent to the fin structure, disposing a gate insulator between the first gate electrode and the fin structure, positioning a second gate electrode transverse to the first gate electrode, and depositing a third gate electrode on the fin structure, the first gate electrode, and the second gate electrode, wherein the isolation layer is formed beneath the insulator, the first gate electrode, and the fin structure. The method further comprises sandwiching the second gate electrode with a dielectric material. The fin structure is formed by depositing an oxide layer over a silicon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent Anderson, Andres Bryant, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20060038216
    Abstract: Device designs and methods are described for incorporating capacitors commonly used in planar CMOS technology into a FinFET based technology. A capacitor includes at least one single-crystal Fin structure having a top surface and a first side surface opposite a second side surface. Adjacent the top surface of the at least one Fin structure is at least one insulator structure. Adjacent the at least one insulator structure and over a portion of the at least one Fin structure is at least one conductor structure. Decoupling capacitors may be formed at the circuit device level using simple design changes within the same integration method, thereby allowing any number, combination, and/or type of decoupling capacitors to be fabricated easily along with other devices on the same substrate to provide effective decoupling capacitance in an area-efficient manner with superior high-frequency response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Inventors: David Fried, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20060022253
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multiple-gate transistor that includes a channel region and source and drain regions at ends of the channel region. A gate oxide is positioned between a logic gate and the channel region and a first insulator is formed between a floating gate and the channel region. The first insulator is thicker than the gate oxide. The floating gate is electrically insulated from other structures. Also, a second insulator is positioned between a programming gate and the floating gate. Voltage in the logic gate causes the transistor to switch on and off, while stored charge in the floating gate adjusts the threshold voltage of the transistor. The transistor can comprise a fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET), where the channel region comprises the middle portion of a fin structure and the source and drain regions comprise end portions of the fin structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent Anderson, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20050280090
    Abstract: A FinFET structure and method of forming a FinFET device. The method includes: (a) providing a semiconductor substrate, (b) forming a dielectric layer on a top surface of the substrate; (c) forming a silicon fin on a top surface of the dielectric layer; (d) forming a protective layer on at least one sidewall of the fin; and (e) removing the protective layer from the at least one sidewall in a channel region of the fin. In a second embodiment, the protective layer is converted to a protective spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Inventors: Brent Anderson, Edward Nowak, Jed Rankin
  • Publication number: 20050280121
    Abstract: A hybrid substrate having a high-mobility surface for use with planar and/or multiple-gate metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) is provided. The hybrid substrate has a first surface portion that is optimal for n-type devices, and a second surface portion that is optimal for p-type devices. Due to proper surface and wafer flat orientations in each semiconductor layers of the hybrid substrate, all gates of the devices are oriented in the same direction and all channels are located on the high mobility surface. The present invention also provides for a method of fabricating the hybrid substrate as well as a method of integrating at least one planar or multiple-gate MOSFET thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bruce Doris, Meikei Ieong, Edward Nowak, Min Yang
  • Publication number: 20050275040
    Abstract: A compact semiconductor structure having back gate(s) for controlling threshold voltages and associated method of formation is disclosed. Fabrication of the semiconductor structure starts with a semiconductor region formed directly on an underlying electrically isolating layer. Then, a mandrel and a spacer are formed on the semiconductor region. Next, a back gate region is formed separated from the semiconductor region by a back gate isolating layer and covered by an inter-gate isolating layer. Next, a portion of the semiconductor region beneath the mandrel is removed so as to form an active region adjacent to the removed portion of the semiconductor region. Finally, a main gate region is formed in place of the removed portion of the semiconductor region and on the inter-gate isolating layer. The main gate region is separated from the active region by a main gate isolating layer and separated from the back gate region by the inter-gate isolating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2004
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent Anderson, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20050275015
    Abstract: A method and structure for tuning a threshold voltage of nFET and pFET devices in a double-gate CMOS integrated circuit structure, wherein the method comprises performing a PSP (post silicide processing) electrical test on the double-gate CMOS integrated circuit structure, determining nFET and pFET threshold voltages during the PSP test, and implanting the double-gate CMOS integrated circuit structure with an alkali metal ion, wherein the step of implanting adjusts the nFET and pFET threshold voltages by an amount required to match desired off-currents for the nFET and pFET devices. According to the method, prior to the step of performing, the method comprises forming a fin structure over an isolation layer, forming source/drain regions over the fin structure, depositing a gate oxide layer adjacent to the source/drain regions, and forming a gate region over the gate oxide layer and the fin structure. The metal ion comprises any of cesium and rubidium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2004
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent Anderson, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20050275045
    Abstract: A field effect transistor (FET) has underlap regions adjacent to the channel doping region. The underlap regions have very low dopant concentrations of less than 1×1017/cc or 5×1016/cc and so tend to have a high resistance. The underlap regions reduce overlap capacitance and thereby increase switching speed. High resistance of the underlap regions is not problematic at subthreshold voltages because the channel doping region also has a high resistance at subthreshold voltages. Consequently, the present FET has low capacitance and high speed and is particularly well suited for operation in the subthreshold regime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2004
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent Anderson, Andres Bryant, William Clark, Edward Nowak
  • Publication number: 20050275922
    Abstract: The invention relates to optical switching. Rapid, low-power optical switching is achieved by selectively substantially depleting majority carriers in a plurality of planes of semiconducting material to alter their transmissive response to incoming radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent Anderson, Edward Nowak